Old Bridgeport Gets New Lease On LIFE

[rb67mustang]

Way cover opened to clean chips off of Knee Bevel Gears.

Chips removed from Saddle to the trash where they belong.

Thanks, tweinke, for the like and for taking the time to check out my project.

 

[tweinke]

I've enjoyed watching your progress, keep it coming!

 

[rb67mustang]

Hi everyone, I hope you're all having a nice Sunday.
OK, so I began mocking up the power feed I bought off of Ebay. If my Bridgeport didn't come with a power feed when it was new, this power feed unit would be fairly simple to install. The 3rd image shows the right end of the X-axis lead screw. The end of the lead screw is an inch from the end of the table. Because the Wen Ding feed unit doesn't have a thrust bearing, I need to use a rigid shaft coupling to attach the shaft extension I need to install this power feed.

 

[rb67mustang]

Here are the sketches I made of the shaft I'll be making. The final dimensions may change when its finished. I'll also have to make my own shaft coupling, or modify a store bought coupling because Bridgeport decided to have a 13/16" diameter end on the X lead screw.

That's it for today, more to follow. BTW, the mock up was done two days ago. Also, I'll add two images I found online of one of the power feed options from Bridgeport that clearly shows how it would attach to the lead screw on my machine.

 

[rb67mustang]

I've enjoyed watching your progress, keep it coming!

Thank,s again my friend!

 

[rb67mustang]

OK, so a week has passed, I'm battling a cold and here's more progress to share with everyone. I honed the table and I partially disassembled the quill feed to order parts from Hardinge. I ordered the parts on Wednesday and they arrived yesterday. I also got a new crank for the Y-axis and the screw I was going to make myself that was missing from the spindle clock spring shaft. Then I rough turned the shaft extension for the power feed and I'll finish turn it between centers. I need to make a lathe dog, or see if one I previously made will work. I'm still waiting for the shaft coupling to couple the shaft extension onto the X lead screw.
Honing the Table using a Silicon Carbide Knife Stone

Partial disassembly of quill feed

The quill feed was still engaged that's why it didn't come off the first time.

 

[rb67mustang]

Extension shaft rough turned. This is the longest shaft I've turned in the Harbor Freight 7 x 10 lathe. This lathe doesn't like heavy cuts it steel. The drive belt hasn't broken, but I have a replacement just in case. The belt is so thin & narrow that I tend to baby the machine.
Please excuse the orientation of the video.

 

[rb67mustang]

Then I installed the new hand crank and the screw on the clock spring shaft. Then I checked the head for Tram and I mounted my new Kurt look a like Chinese vise on the machine for the first time. Then I indicated in the shaft end that was centered in the lathe. I re-cut the center then I end for ended the shaft and held it in the V block by the same diameter I indicated to center drill the second end of the shaft. Now I can finish turn it between centers.
Checking the Head for Tram

 

[rb67mustang]

I hope everyone's having a great weekend. That's it for now, more progress to follow.

 

[rb67mustang]

I hope everyone's having a great weekend. That's it for now, more progress to follow.

Thanks again, Steve, for following my thread. I should have the shaft finished turned this weekend. I'll be cutting the first thread on the Harbor Freight Lathe, but I'll do a test part first to make sure I use the correct gear for the thread. Yeah, no quick change gear box on the Hobby Lathe.